Slack-take-up device



Dec. 2, 1930. R. H. FLOYD SLACK TAKE-UP DEVICE Filed Feb. 14,4 1927l/Umr:

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.Pq/gif Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAY H. FLOYD,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIQUE SPARK PLUG CLEANER CO, 0FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SLACK-TAKE-UP DEVICEApplication led February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,174.

-of a manually operable handle mounted on thedash of the motor vehicle.

More specifically considered, the object of the invention is to providea hydraulic controller having a rotatable handle which is held againstaxial movement, but which is operative by its rotary motion to cause aplunger in a stationary cylinder to move back and forth therein, therebyto control the brake adjusting means in the desired manner.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features ofconstruction and combinations tending to increase the general etliciencyand the desirability of a brake adjuster controller of this particularcharacter.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention" consists inmatters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section of the dashand footboard and adjacent parts of a motor vehicle, showing a hydraulicbrake adjuster having a .controllerconstructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlargedlongitudinaL section of said controller on line 2-2in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line '3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a foot pedal 1 connected bya brake adjusting device, or slack takeup device 2, of any suitablecharacter, with the rod 3 which is connected to the brake operatingmeans. The said slack takeup device 2 is connected by a pipe 4 with theend of the staltionary cylinder 5, which latter is a part of thecontroller on the dash 6 of the-motor vehicle. Y

The said controller comprises a cap or head 7 into which the saidcylinder 5 is screwed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which cap orhead is secured by screws 8 to the dash'of the vehicle. A disc 9 isclamped between the edge of the cylinder 5 and the seat 10 formed insaid head or cap, and this disc is provided with an arm 11 which is bentdown at its end 12 to bear firmly against the interior of the cyllnder.The handle-13 has a stem 14 rotatably mounted in the bearing portion 15of the said head or cap and this stem is provided with enlargement 16having notches 17 around one annular edge thereof as shown. Portion 18of said stem,'which is inside the cylinder, is threaded to engage thethreaded bore 19 of the'hollow stem 2O of the piston or plunger head 21which is movable back and orth in the cylinder, toward and away from theoutlet 22 of the cylinder, which outlet is in communication with thepipe 4 previously mentioned.

Said piston or plunger head 21 is preferably provided with packing rings23, of any suitable character, and also with a face packing 24, therebto prevent leakage of the oil or other liqui fromthe chamber 25 past theplunger or piston head and into the chamer 26, as the latter is merelyspace for the operating mechanism. When the handle 13 is rotated, thepiston or plunger head 21 will be moved one way or the other, dependingupon the direction of rotation of the handle. If the piston or plungerhead 21 is moved to the right, in Fig. 2, it will force oil or' otherliquid out of the chamber 25 and into the pipe 4, and from the latterinto the slack takeup device or hydraulic brake adjustin means 2,causing in e'ect a shortening o the connection between rod 3 and thepedal 1, thereby causing a tightening of the brakes of the motorvehicle. This is done, it will be seen, by means of the handle 13conveniently located on the dash of the vehicle, and held by part 16against axial movement, so that the handle 13 does not move toward andaway from the dash, but occupies a position a fixed distance from saiddash. The stem 20, it will be seen, has a iat side 27 which bears uponthe opposing flat surface of the arm 11, thereby preventing rotation ofthe piston or plunger head 21, within the cylinder, so that the onlything that rotates is the handle 13 and its stem.

As a matter of further and special improvement, a lock 28 is provided,of any suitable character, having a key 29 for the operation thereof, inthe socket 30 formed in the head or cap 7 previously mentioned, the lockand key being disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of thehandle 13 by which the controller is operated. This lock has a bolt forengagement with the notches y 17 whereby the controller can be lockedagainst operation. In this way there is no danger of the brakes beingaccidently loosened, after being adjusted in the desired manner.Furthermore, this lock feature can be used as an expedient for keepingthe car from being used, as by rotating the handle 13 until the brakesare set tightly, and by then locking the controller, the vehicle can beplaced in a condition which will prevent its use, except as the brakesmight be released by breakage of some part of the vehicle equipment.

But the invention as exemplified by the construction shown and describedprovides a hydraulic controller which can be made tight to preventleakage and which will not be liable to get out of order. There are noexposed screw threads on the controller and the only exposed movableparts are the handle 13 and the smooth external portion 14 of the stemof the handle.

A vent 31 can be provided in one side of the c linder, if desired, topermit escape of the air from the cylinder when the piston or plungerhead 21 is moved backward away from the outlet 22, as in loosening thebrakes, or in drawin ,oil or other liquid into the chamber 25 o thecylinder.

For the filling of the hydraulic brake adjusting system thus provided,any suitableA provision can be employed. For example, a filler 32 can beprovided in the pipe 4, -of the kind ordinarily a plied to the bearingsof a motor vehicle, or engagin an ordinary illing tool by whichlubricating oil is injected into the bearings.

vWithout disclaiming anything, and with-l out prejudice to any noveltydisclosed, what I claim as my invention is:

1. In a hydraulic controller, the combination'of a cylinder, acylindrical plunger in said cylinder, a rotary handle, means forming afixed bearing holding said handle against axial movement, the handle andcylinder being axially aligned, screw threaded adjusting connectionbetween said handle and said plunger, operative to cause back and forthmovement of said plunger by the rotation of said handle, and meansseparate from the cylinder and enclosed therein to hold said plungeragainst rotation, said bearing and cylinder being rigidly but separablyoonnected, and means to mount the bearin in fixed position to supportthe cylinder in fixed position.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with the brakecontrol of a motor vehicle, and means including a lock topreventrotation of said handle, to lock the controller againstoperation, and means whereby said controller' is voperatively connectedwit-h said brake control, whereby the brake Control may be lockedagainst operation.

3. In a brake adjuster, the combination of means operative to tighten orloosen the brake, a controller for 'operating said means, and a lock forlocking the controller in any brake tightening or loosening positionthereof and against operation and thereby preventing tampering with thebrake adjuster, and means for operating the brake while the controlleris locked.

4;. In a controller, a cylinder, a removable head for-said cylinder, aguide plate clamped between said head and the end of the cylinder, aplunger in said cylinder, having means to engage said guide to preventrotation of the plunger, a rotary handle having a stem extending throughsaid head and provided with a screwthreaded connection with saidplunger, whereby rotation of said handle causes axial movement of saidplunger, and means between said head and guide to prevent axialdisplacement of said handle.

Specification signed this 26th day of Jan.,

RAY H. FLOYD.

